Thill-coupling



(No Model.)

T. P. KERSEY 8u E. W. LEAGH.

THILL GOUPLING.

UNrrnn Sterns Arnr @trice THOMAS I. KERSEY AND EDWIN YV. LEACH, OF PULASKI, TENNESSEE.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 602,989, dated .April 26, 1898.

Application led June 8,1897. Serial No. 639,873. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that we, THOMAS P. Knnsnv and EDWIN Wr. LEAOH, citizens of the United States, residing at Pulaski, in the county of Giles and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful TMll-Coupling, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in chill-couplings. Y

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of thill-couplings and to provide a simple, strong, and Vdurable one which will enable poles and thills to be readily connected to and removed from a vehicle without necessitating the employment of a wrench or similar tool.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the thill-coupling constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view. Fig. 4 is a det-ail perspective viewY of the axle-clip, the same being inverted to illustrate the manner of mountingthe spring-catch on the same. Fig. 5 is adetail perspective view of the coupling arm or frame. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the spring-catch.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

l designates an axle-clip provided with a forwardly-extending lug or enlargement 2, provided at opposite sides with vertical recesses 3 and having a dovetailed groove e in its front face. This lug or enlargement is adapted to interlock with a coupling iron or frame 5, which is provided at its back with a central dovetailed arm 6 and a pair of rearwardly-extending side arms 7. The central dovetailed arm 6 is adapted toiit snugly within the dovetailed groove 4 andtapers from its top to its bottom, and the side arms 7 are provided at their inner faces with vertical bosses having convex faces which conform to the configuration of the side recesses 3. By this construction the frame is rmly interlocked with the enlargement of theclip and is readily coupled and uncoupled therefrom by slipping it downward on the same and lifting it vertically therefrom.

The coupling iron or frame is retained in engagement with the enlargement of the axleclip by a spring-catch 9, provided with a beveled head, which forms a lower shoulder and which is adapted to project over the upper face of the central arm 6 when the parts are coupled to retain them in such engagement. The head of the spring-catch is adapted to be readily pressed backward to release the coupling-frame, and the beveling of the head permits the spring-catch to engage the coupling iron or frame automatically in the coupling of the parts. The spring-catch is provided with a T-shaped shank, arranged in a vertical recess 10 of the rear wall of the dovetailed groove and in a transverse recess ll of the bottom of the enlargement, which is provided with projecting lugs or iianges l2 for securing the arms of the shank in the bottom recess. The coupling iron or frame is provided with forwardly-projecting ears 18, perforated to receive a transverse coupling-bolt 14, which connects a thill-iron 15 to the coupling iron or frame in the usual manner.

An antirattler-spring 16 is interposed between the eye of the thill-iron and the central portion of the coupling iron or frame and consists of a substantially U -shaped loop and a pair of arms connected with the sides of the loop by spring-coils.

The invention has the following advantages: The thill-coupling is simple, inexpensive, strong', and durable, and it will enable poles and thills to be readily attached to and removed from a vehicle without necessitating the employment of a wrench. lt will also enable the operation of coupling and uncoupling to be performed with great rapidity, and it is especially advantageous in disconnecting the shafts or pole of a vehicle should a horse fall, and it will avoid all liability-of a shaft being broken by stock contacting Awith it while one side is connected with the axle and the other side free.

In a thill-coupling, the combination of an axle-clip having an enlargement provided at IOO its front with a tapering dovetailed groove and at its sides with grooves, -a eouplingframe provided with a tapering arm interlocked with the dovetailed groove and supporting the coupling-frame, the latter being provided with rearwardly-extending side arms having bosses engaging the side grooves of the en` largement, and a spring-catch mounted on the enlargement and having its engaging portion at the top thereof in position to be automat` ieally depressed by the dovetaiied arm in assembling the parts, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own We have hereto afixed our signatures 15 in the presence of tWo witnesses.

THOMAS P. KERSEY. EDWIN W. LEACH.

Witnesses:

J. T. CRossNo, R. H. RIDGWAY. 

